Auxiliary conveyer for correcting feed of paper



G. BABICZ July 22, 1952 AUXILIARY CONVEYER FOR CORRECTING FEED OF PAPER Filed Jan. 2'7, 1949 2 Sl-IEETS-SHEET 1 INVENTOR. 65w efiabc z BY G. BAB-ICZ July 22, 1952 AUXILIARY CONVEYER FOR CORRECTING FEED OF PAPER Filed Jan. 27, 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 v INVENTOR. 660;" efiacy,

Patented July 22, 1952 AUXILIARY CONVEYER FOR CORRECTING FEED OF PAPER George Babicz, Chicago, Ill. Application January 27, 1949, Serial No. 73,158

7 Claims. 1

A printing machine includes a conveyor consisting of a pair of endless chains provided with alined pins which engage an edge of a paper sheet for feeding the same toward and into printing rollers. It frequently occurs that the paper engaging pins in the conveyor come out of alinement, that is out of parallelism with the printing rollers, for various reasons, one of them being slackening of one chain with relation to the other, which in turn results from more rapid wear of one chain due to friction or other causes. Obviously, when a-pair of pins in the two conveyor chains come out of proper mutual adjustment. that is out of parallelism with the printing rollers, the paper to be printed will not be fed into the rollers in a straight line but will be fed thereto obliquely.

To obviate the imperfect feeding of paper to the printing rollers due to causes hereinabove specified the present invention was devised, and its principal object is the provision of an auxiliary conveyor, coacting with the usual paper feeding conveyor, which auxiliary conveyor may be provided with a pair of paper engaging pins capable of engaging the paper at a desired distance from the printing rollers and capable of correcting the misalinement of paper by the pins in the regular conveyor due to causes hereinabove mentioned and capable of feeding the papertowardsthe printing rollers in its proper adjusted corrected position.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a suitable carriage upon which the said auxiliary conveyor is mounted, with means for shifting the carriage and the auxiliary conveyor bodily and longitudinally of the regular conveyor for adjusting and timing the operation of the paper engaging pins in the said auxiliary conveyor with relation to the paper engaging pins of the regular conveyor.

Any conveyor chain after a period of operation becomes slack, which is true' not only with reference to a regular paper feeding conveyor in a printing machine, but also is equally true in connection with the chains in the said auxiliary conveyor. Therefore, another object of the present invention is the provision of a suitable mechanism whereby the slack in the conveyor chains engendered by the wearing off of the links thereof may be eliminated without replacing the chains.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of a suitable mechanism whereby a pair of sprocket wheels'upon which an endless chain is suspended may be bodily moved away vfrom eachv other to a proper adjusted distance and maintained in their adjusted position for removing the slack in an endless chain.

In time one chain in the auxiliary conveyor aforesaid may wear off sooner than the other chain, as a consequence of which condition a pair of paper engaging pins in the said auxiliary conveyor may come out of proper alinement, and which condition may be incapable of correction by anyone of the two mechanisms hereinabove specified. Therefore, another object of the present invention is the provision of a suitable mechanism whereby one conveyor chain may be longitudinally shifted with relation to the other chain in either direction for bringing about a proper alinement of a pair of cooperating pins in the two chains.

With the above general objects in view and others that will appear as the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings forming a part of this application and in which like designating characters refer to corresponding'parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a top elevational view of a paper conveyor in a printing machine with an auxiliary conveyor therewithin; 1

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse cross-sectional view through the two conveyors, taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the carriage plates supporting the mechanism of the auxiliary conveyor; and

Fig. 5 is a transverse cross-sectional view through a sprocket wheel cooperating with one chain in the auxiliary conveyor and through the mechanism for rotatably shifting said sprocket Wheel for longitudinally adjusting one chain with relation to the other chain in the auxiliary conveyor.

Referring to the present drawings in detail there is shown therein a pair of frame plates l0, each provided with an oblong recess H for the purpose hereinafter'specified. Carried by one end of each frame plate I!) is sprocket wheel l2, over which endless conveyor chain I3 is passed. Adjacent the opposite end of said frame plate I 0 is a similar sprocket wheel, which is not shown in the drawings, over-which a similar. chain is ikewise passed for longitudinal movement. Each of the two chains [3 has a plurality of paper engaging pins [4. A pair of said pins M in the two chains l3 engage the rear end of a paper sheet for shifting the same toward the printing rollers, not shown in the drawings, and in the direction indicated by an arrow in Fig. l. Affixed to the outer faces of said frame plates H? are horizontal ledges l5, which support the upper horizontal portions of chains l3 and prevent sagging thereof. 1 Either front or rear sprocket wheels l2 are rotated by any suitable driving mechanism for shifting two chains l3 for shifting the printing paper superimposed thereon toward the printing rollers. This is a usual construction of a chain conveyor in a printing machine. When a pair of pins [4 in a paper shifting conveyor are properly alined, that is when the same is in a parallel juxtaposition with relation to the printing rollers, no difficulty will be encountered for feeding the paper into the printing rollers evenly. When however one conveyor chain l3 becomes elongated with relation to the other by virtue of the fact that the links of the former have worn sooner than the links of the other conveyor chain, due to friction or other causes, then the two paper engaging pins M will become misalined, that is they will not be on a true transverse plane of said conveyor chains l3 or on a plane parallel to the printing rollers. As

a consequence of such misalinement of pins I l the paper sheet will not be fed evenly toward the printing rollers, but will be shifted obliquely. To obviate such a result the present auxiliary conveyor was devised,

The said auxiliary conveyor is supported by a carriage, which includes a pair of plates l6, each in contact with the inner face of each frame plate ID, as clearly seen in Fig. 3. Superimposed upon the upper edge of said plate It, and adjacent the rear end thereof is block H, which is affixed to said plate l6 by means of screw l8. Integrally formed with said block If, and extending forwardly of the front end thereof, is a reduced extension I9, which also contacts the of the front end of the latter. Intermediately of the rear end of said block ll and screw IS a transverse bore is made in said block Coacting with the front end of said plate i6 and cooperating with said block I! is head 2|, which is of a substantially similar construction to that of said block Said head 2|, however, has an integrally formed extension 22, which extends from the rear end of said head 2| and from the upper portion thereof, and is superimposed for shifting movement upon said extension I9. Each of said extensions |9 and 22 is substantially onehalf of the thickness of either said block IT or head 2|. Made in said head 2| is oblong slot 23 through which screw 24 is passed for engaging plate It. Said slot 23 permits longitudinal shifting of said head 2| and its extension 22 to or away from said block when said screw 24 is loosened. Intermediately of said slot 23 and the front end of said head 2|, the latter is provided with bore transverse 25.

Passed through extension 9 and engaging plate it is screw 26, which is provided with a frustoconical head. Said head is in a spaced relation with the adjacent end wall of said block H, the latter wall being at an incline in order that said block I? may not interfere with the head of said screw 26, as is clearly seen in Fig. 2. When screw 24 is loosened head 2| and its extension 22 may be shifted away from block i1, and thereupon screw 26 may be driven further into plate |6 for downwardly shifting its head and bringing the same in contact with the adjacent end of extension 2 2.

When screw 26- is driven downwardly and its head brought in contact with the adjacent end of extension 22, the latter and head 2| Will be maintained in a rigid adjusted position, screw 26 preventing shifting of said extension 22 and head 2| toward block When adjustment of said extension 22 and head 2| has been made as aforesaid screw 24 is tightened for clamping said head 2| to plate It and extension 22 to extension I2.

Block H, head 2| and extensions I9 and 22 are wider than the width of plate l6, and the outer edges of the former are off-set from the outer face of plate It, as shown in Fig. 3. The off-set edges of said block l1, head 2| and extensions l9 and 22 enter recess H in frame plate In, by virture of which arrangement the said parts, as well as plate l6, are all suspended upon frame plate Hi, with plate IS in contact with the inner face of frame plate H], as is clearly seen in Fig. 3.

Each of plates I6 is provided with toothed rack 21, for the purpose hereinafter stated.

Passed through the opposed bores 20 in two blocks i1 is shaft 28, while drive shaft 29 is passed through the opposed bores in the two heads 2|. Carried by said shaft 28 is a pair of sprocket wheels 30, each adjacent the inner face of plate I6, and each provided with an integrally formed collar 3|. Each of said sprocket wheels 33 is loosely positioned upon shaft 28. Optionally said sprocket wheels 33 may be unconnected with collars 3|, in which case said upper edge of said plate l6, but terminates short rigidly affixed to Shaft 29 by key collars 3| may be keyed to shaft 28 to provide stops for wheels 30 for preventing lateral shifting of the latter.

A pair of sprocket wheels 33 are mounted upon drive shaft 29. One of said sprocket wheels 33 is provided with an integrally formed collar 34 which is keyed to said shaft 29, while the other of said sprocket wheels 33 coacts with collar 35 The inner end of said collar 35 is provided with a reduced concentric boss 31 which enters a corresponding central bore made in said sprocket wheel 33 as is clearly seen in Fig. 5.

Extending from the inner face of said last named sprocket wheel 33 is arcuate skirt 38. which contacts with the periphery of said collar 35 and extends to substantially one-half of its circumference, as is seen in Fig. 2. Said shirt 38 is provided with an oblong slot 39, through which screw 40 is passed and is driven into said collar 35 for binding said sprocket wheel 33 to said collar 35. One end of said skirt 38 has an outwardly directed, radial extension 4|, which coacts with a. similar extension 42 made in said collar 35. Passed through the latter extension is screw 43, the inner end of which contacts with and bears against extension 4|. Thus, when scr w 40 is loosened sprocket wheel 33 may then be rotatably shifted upon boss 31, with skirt 38 rotatably shifting upon collar 35, in either direction, with extension 4| shifting to or away from extension 42, when screw 43 is extended away from extension 4| so that the same may not interfere therewith.

Suspended upon and passed over one sprocket wheel 30 and sprocket wheel 33 adjacent plate is is endless chain 44, while suspended upon and passed over the other of said sprocket wheels 30 and the opposed sprocket wheel 33, adjacent the other of said plates I5, is similar endless chain 44. Each of said chains 44 has a plurality of paper engaging pins 45.

Afiixed to the inner face of each plate I6, by means of screws 46, is plate 41, which extends in an upward direction, its upper end carrying inwardly directed ledge 48, which supports from below the upper horizontal portion of each chain 44, for preventing sagging thereof. 7

It is observed that screws I8, 24 and 26 are disposed adjacent th inner edges of blocks I1 and heads 2 I, and are interposed between frame plates I and the adjacent chains 44 in order that an unimpeded access thereto may be had for their operation, as is seen in Fig. 1.

Supported in a transverse direction below the regular and auxiliary conveyors, in any suitable manner, is stationary shaft 49, which supports a pair of arms 50, each outside of the vertical plane coextensive with conveyor chains I3.

For angular rigid adjustment of saidarms 50 upon shaft 49, the lower end of each arm 50 is split as at 5|, effecting a pair of extensions 52 which receive threaded bolt 53, which, when loosened, will permit angular adjustment of said arms 56 relatively to said shaft 49, and which bolt, when tightened, will maintain said arms 50 in a rigid adjusted position with relation to said shaft 49. The opposite ends of said arms receive shaft 54. Said ends are likewise split and receive threaded bolts 55 for optionally rigidly locking said shaft 54 within the upper ends of said arms 50. Said shaft 54 has a pair of gear wheels 56, each meshing with toothed rack 21 of plate l6. Rigidly affixed to one end of said shaft 54 is handle 51, by means of which said shaft 54 may be rotated in either direction for imparting rotary movement to said gear wheels 56'for the purpose of shifting the auxiliary conveyor supporting carriage in either direction. When said carriage shifts, the outer, off-set portions of blocks I'l, heads 2| and extensions I9 and 22, remaining within each recess I I will shift therewithin in one or the opposite direction, depending on which direction shaft 54 is rotated. Thus, when said carriage is shifted chains 44 are bodily shifted therewith with relation to chains |3 in either direction.

As the paper sheet is deposited upon conveyor chains I3 pins I4 thereof engage the rear edge of the paper sheet for pushing the same toward the printing rollers in the direction of the arrow indicated in Fig. l. The operation of conveyor 44-44 is timed with the operation of conveyor |3--| 3, in such a manner that when pins I4 of the regular conveyor are on a line with sprocket wheels 30 of the auxiliary conveyor, pins 45 of the latter conveyor are slightly behind pins I4 of the regular conveyor.

As said pins I4 of the regular conveyor approach the opposite end of the auxiliary conveyor, pins 45 of the latter conveyor pass pins I4 of the regular conveyor and assume a position advanced of said pins I4, as is clearly seen in Fig. 2. From that point on pins I4 of the regular conveyor remain rearwardly of pins 45 of the auxiliary conveyor, and the latter pins alone engage and contact the rear edge of the' paper sheet and continue to engage and contact the same until the forward end of the paper sheet has been received by and between the printing rollers. Thus, adjacent the end of the auxiliary conveyor which is in the nearest proximity of the printing rollers, thatis adjacent sprocket wheels 33, transference of the engagement of the paper sheets, by pins I4 to pins 45 takes place. Ree gardless as to whether or. not to, the point'of transference pinsj I4 were in, a proper mutual alinement, and hence whether of not as a consequence thereof the paper upon conveyor |3|3 was in a proper position upon the said conveyor, pins 45 picking up the paper at the transference point will straighten out its position and adjust the rear edge thereof into a perpendicular transverse relation with the two conveyors and in parallelism with the printing rollers.

In order that at the transference point aforesaid pins 45 of the auxiliary conveyor may not be too far advanced of pins I4 of the regular conveyor, or that the same may not be too near to said latter pins, hence the provision of the mechanism for bodily shifting the auxiliary conveyor and its carriage into one or the opposite direction and longitudinally of the said regular conveyor. Said mechanism of course includes rack 21, shaft 54, handle 51 and gear wheels 56 meshing with said rack 21.

For the purpose of dismantling the auxiliary conveyor or replacing the parts thereof, bolts 53 are loosened, causing arms 50 to angularly shift into a downward direction. This will disengage gears 55 from racks 21. Thereupon screws it, 24 and 26 are loosened for disengagement of plates I6 from blocks I1 and heads 2|.

In time due to friction and wearing off of the links in chains 44 the latter chains will become loose which condition may detract from the chicient operation of the auxiliary conveyor in that pins 45 thereof may not be properly timed with the operation of pins I4, at the transference point aforesaid, that is at the point at which pins 45 of the auxiliary conveyor shift past pins I4 of the regular conveyor adjacent sprocket wheels 33, as seen in Fig. 2. To obviate such a result, and to remove the slack in chains 44, shiftable heads 2| and screws 26 were devised. On loosening screws 24, screws 26 are driven into plate I6. This operation causes the peripheral inclined walls of the heads of screws 26 to exert lateral pressure upon the adjacent contacting ends of extensions 22 for shifting the latter and their heads 2| forwardly of plate I6. This operation causes bodily shifting of shaft 29 and sprocket wheels 33 into the same direction and eifects tightening and stretching of chains 44 upon sprocket wheels 30 and 33. When this has been done screws 24 are tightened, which, in cooperation with screws 25 maintain heads 2| in a rigid adjusted position with relation to plate It, and sprocket wheels 33 in an adjusted position with relation to sprocket wheels 30.

In time, the wearing off of the links in two chains 44 may not be uniform, and notwithstanding the adjustment mechanisms aforesaid, including the mechanism for shifting the auxiliary conveyor bodily with relation to the regular conveyor, and the mechanism for stretching and tightening chains 44, one chain 44 may wear off and become slack sooner than the other.

By virtue of the above condition, which may not be corrected by the two mechanisms last hereinabove mentioned, pins 45 may come out of proper mutual alinement, which condition necessarily must be corrected. To correct this condition one chain 44 must be shifted into one or the opposite direction with relation to the other chain 44 in order to properly aline their respective pins 45. Therefore, to shift one chain 44 independently of the other chain 44 for the purpose mentioned, the-mechanism which includes collar 35,

boss 31, skirt 33, screw 40, extensions 4| and 42, and screw 43, was devised. When said screw is loosened, and screw 43 is shifted outwardly of extension 42 to a sufficient degree, sprocket wheel 33, with which the above mechanism coacts, is then rotatably shifted into one or the other direction. Slot 39 permits skirt 38 to shift with wheel 33, and upon collar 35, without obstruction from said screw 40. The rotary shifting of said sprocket wheel 33 will necessarily shift its chain 44 into one or the opposite direction and wholly independently of the other chain 44. This operation adjusts the relative position of the first named chain 44 with relation to the last named chain 44, and consequently shifts pins of the former chain so that said pins may be properly alined with the corresponding pins of the other chain. Once this has been accomplished screw 40 is tightened for rigidly binding sprocket wheel 33 to collar 35 through said skirt 38. In order that during operation of said chain 44 sprocket wheel 33 may not shift with relation to collar 35, but may continue to be in a rigid adjusted association therewith, screw 43 is driven through extension 42 until the end of said screw comes in contact with the adjacent face of extension 4|. Thus, said screw 43 constitutes an additional means for maintaining sprocket wheel 33 in its adjusted relation with collar 35.

As said sprocket wheel 33, having skirt 3B, rotatably shifts into a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2, in order to shift the upper portion of its chain 44 in the direction toward the printing rollers, and said screw 43 bears against extension 4| from below, and hence bears upon skirt 38 at its end which is farthest from the printing rollers, no concern need be had of said sprocket wheel 33, and consequently its chain 44, coming out of their adjusted positions with relation to the opposite sprocket Wheel 33 and its chain 44. This holds true with relation to the cooperating pins 45 of said chains 44. Once said chains have been mutually adjusted by means of the mechanism last hereinabove described, the cooperating pins 45 of the two chains will have been likewise mutually adjusted so that each pair of the opposed pins 45 in the two chains will remain upon a true transverse line running across both conveyors and in parallelism with the printing rollers.

Obviously, only one mechanism last hereinabove described, to cooperate with one chain 44, is required, because when one chain is shifted in longitudinal direction both chains will become relatively adjusted to each other in order to bring the opposed pins 45 in the two chains into a mutual proper adjustment.

Since both sprocket wheels 35 are loosely set upon shaft 23 shifting of one chain 44 in the manner and for the purpose last hereinabove mentioned will not affect the other chain 44.

It is further noted that at the time of adjustment of the carriage by gears 56, bolts .55 should be loosened to permit free rotary movement of shaft 54 within the upper ends of arms 50. Having adjusted the carriage by rotatably shifting shaft 54 and gears 55 by actuating handle .51, bolts .55 are then tightened and this will prevent rotation of shaft 54 and the rotation of gears 53, maintaining "the latter in a rigid adjusted position with racks 2:7 and with the carriage, preven in in ependent. shif mov m nt of the latter.

.While there is described herein preferred embodiments of thepresent invention, it is nevertheless to be understood that minor changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What I claim as new is:

l. A conveyor system for feeding sheets of paper to a roller of'a printing machine comprising a main conveyor and an auxiliary conveyor, said main conveyor comprising a pair of elongated, spaced and parallel side members, said side members each having a slot formed therein extending in the direction of their elongation and aligned with each other, a shaft rotatably mounted in and extending between'said side members adjacent their respective ends, each of said shafts having end portions thereof projecting beyond the outer face of their respective adjacent side members, a sprocket mounted on each projecting end portion of said shaft, an endless chain trained around each pair of sprockets adjacent one of said side members for continuous substantially orbital movement relative thereto, a plurality of spaced pins mounted on each of said chains for engaging an edge of a sheet of paper to be conveyed to said roller, said pins on one of said chains being normally aligned with said pins on the other of said chains, said side members each having an elongated chain support projecting laterally from each of said side members adjacent their respective upper edges to support a section of their respective adjacent chains for movement in a horizontal plane during a portion of their orbital movement, said auxiliary conveyor comprising a pair of spaced, elongated, substantially rectangular and parallel plates disposed between and parallel to said side members with the inner face of each of the latter juxtaposed with respect to the adjacent outer face of the former, a hearing block fixedly mounted on the upper edge of each of said plates adjacent one of their respective ends, each of said bearing blocks having a horizontal and transversely extending opening formed therein and in alignment with each other, a second bearing block mounted on the upper edge of each of said plates adjacent the other of their respective ends, each of said second bearing blocks having a horizontal and transversely extending opening formed therein and in alignment with each other, a shaft mounted for rotation in .each pair of aligned openings in said blocks, each of said blocks having a portion thereof projecting laterally beyond said outer faces of each of said plates and extending within said slot in each adjacent side member for sliding engagement therein toward and away from opposed ends of said main conveyor, a sprocket mounted on each shaft of said auxiliary conveyor adjacent the inner faces of said plates, an endless chain trained around each pair of said last named sprockets adjacent each of said inner faces of said plates for continuous substantially orbital movement relative thereto, a plurality of spaced pins mounted on each of said last named chains for engagement against said edge of said paper, said pins on one of said last named chains being normally aligned with said pins on the other of said last named chains, an elongated chain support projecting laterally from each of said plates adjacent their respective upper edges to support a section of said last named chains for movement during a, portion of their orbital movement, means coacting with one of said last named sprockets and its shaft to radially adjust the, former with respect to the latter to correct misalignment of said pins on said last named chains, means for moving one pair of bearing blocks adjacent one end of said plates toward or away. from the other pair of said bearing blocks to adjust and take up the slack in said last named chains, a gear rack formed in the lower edge of each of said plates, a shaft fixedly mounted below and extending horizontally and transversely of said main conveyor, an elongated bar having one of its ends rotatably mounted on said last named shaft adjacent each end thereof, said bars having their respective other ends projecting upwardly toward said side members, means securing said bars in adjusted position radially of said last named shaft, a shaft rotatably supported on said bars adjacent their other respective ends, a gear wheel secured to said last named shaft adjacent each end thereof for rotation therewith and meshing with, respectively, one of said gear racks formed in said plates, and manually operated means for rotating said last named shaft whereby said auxiliary conveyoris moved toward or away from the opposed ends of said main conveyor to adjust the point of transfer of said sheet of paper from said pins on said main conveyor to said pins on said auxiliary conveyor.

2. A conveyor system for feeding sheets of paper to a roller of a printing machine comprising a main conveyor and an auxiliary -conveyor, said main conveyor comprising a pair of elongated, spaced and parallel sid members, said side members each having a slot formed therein extending in the direction of their elongation and aligned with each other, a shaft rotatably mounted in and extendin between said side members adjacent their respective ends, each of said shafts having end portions thereof projecting beyondthe outer of their respective adjacent side members, a sprocket mounted on each projecting portion of said shaft, an endless chain trained around eachpair of sprockets adjacent one of said side'rnembers for continuous substantially orbital movement relative thereto, a plurality of spaced pins mounted on each of said chains for engaging an edge of a sheet of paper to be conveyed tosaid roller,said pins on one of said chains being normally aligned with said pins on the other of said chains, said auxiliary conveyor comprising a pair of spaced, elongated, substantially rectangular and parallel plates disposed between and parallel to said side members with the inner face of each of the latter juxtaposed with respect to the adjacent outer face of the former, a bearing block fixedly mounted on the upper edge of each of said plates adjacent one of their respective ends, each of said bearing blocks having a horizontal and transversely extending openin formed therein and in alignment with eachother, a second bearing block mounted on the upper edge of each of said plates adjacent the other of their respective ends, each of said second bearing blocks having a horizontal and transversely extending opening formed therein and in alignment with each other, a shaft mounted for rotation in each pair' of aligned openings in said blocks, each of said blocks having a portion thereof projecting laterally beyond said outer faces of each of said plates and extending within said slot in each adjacent side member for sliding engagement therein toward and away from the opposed ends of said main conveyor, a sprocket mounted on each shaft of said auxiliary conveyor adjacent the inner faces of said plates, an endless chaintrained around each pair of said last named sprockets adjacent each of said inner faces of said plates for continuous su stant ally orbital m vement relative thereto, a plurality of spaced pins mounted on each of said last named chains for engagement against said edge of said paper, said pins on one of said last named chains being normally-aligned with said pins on the other of said last named chains, means coacting with one of said. last named sprockets and its shaft to radially adjust the former with respect to the latter to correct misalignment of said pins on said last named chains, means for moving on pair of bearing blocks adjacent one end of said plates toward or away from the other pair of said bearing blocks to adjust and take up the slack in said last named chains, a gear rack formed in the lower edge of each of said plates, a shaft fixedly mounted below and. extending horizontally and transversely of said main conveyor, an elongated bar having one of its ends rotatably mounted on said last named shaft adjacent each end thereof, said bars having their respective other-ends projecting upwardly toward said side members, means securing said bars in adjusted'position radially of said last named shaft, a shaft rotatably supported on said bars adjacent their other respective ends, a gear wheel secured to said last named shaft adjacent each end thereof for rotation therewith and meshing with, respectively, one of said gear racks formed in said plates, and means to rotat said last named shaft whereby said auxiliary conveyor is moved toward or away from the opposed ends of said main conveyor to adjust the point of transfer of said sheet of paper from said pins on said main conveyor to said pins on said auxiliary conveyor.

3. A conveyor system for feeding sheets of paper to a roller of a printing machine comprising a main conveyor and an auxiliary conveyor, said main conveyor comprisinga pair of elongated, spaced and parallel side members, said side'members each having a slot formed therein extending in the direction of their elongation and aligned with each other,- a shaft rotatably mounted in and extending between said side members adjacent their respective ends, each of said shafts having end portions thereof projecting beyond the outer side of their respective adjacentside members, a sprocket mounted on each projecting portion of said shafts, an endless chain trained around each pair of sprockets adjacent one of said side members for continuous'substantially orbital movement relative thereto, a plurality of spaced pins mounted on each of said chains for engaging an edge of a sheet of paper to be conveyed to said roller, said pins on one of said chains being normally aligned with said pins on the other of said chains, said auxiliary conveyor comprising a pair of spaced, elongated, substantially rectangular and parallel plates disposed between and parallel to said side members with the inner face of each of the latter juxtaposed with respect to the adjacent outer face of the former, a bearing block fixedly mounted on the upper edge of each of saidplates adjacent one of their respective ends, each of said bearing blocks having a horizontal and transversely extending opening formed therein and in alignment with each other, a second bearing block mounted on the upper edge of each of said plates adjacent the other of their respective ends, each of said second bearing blocks having a horizontal and transversely extending opening formed therein and in alignment with each other, a shaft mounted for rotation in each pair of aligned openings in said blocks, each of said blocks having a portion thereof projecting laterally be-' yond said outer faces of each of said plates and extending within said slot in each adjacent side member for sliding engagement therein toward and away from the opposed ends of said main conveyor, a sprocket mounted on each shaft of said auxiliary conveyor adjacent the inner faces of said plates, an endless chain trained around each pair of said last named sprockets adjacent each of said inner faces of said plates for continuous substantially orbital movement relative thereto, a plurality of spaced pins mounted on each of said last named chains for engagement against said edge of said paper, said pins on one of said last named chains being normally aligned with said pins on the other of said last named chains,means for moving one pair of bearing blocks adjacent one end of said plates toward or away from the other pair of said bearing blocks to adjust and take up the slack in said last named chains, a gear rack formed in the lower edge of each of said plates, a shaft fixedly mounted below and extending horizontally and transversely of said main conveyor, an elongated bar having one of its ends rotatably mounted on said last named shaft adjacent each end thereof, said bars having their respective other ends projecting upwardly toward said side members. means securing said bars in adjusted position radially of said last named shaft, a shaft rotatably supported on said bars adjacent their other respective ends; a gear wheel secured to said last named shaft adjacent each end thereof for rotation therewith and meshing with, respectively, one of said gear racks formed in said plates, and

means to rotate said last named shaft whereby said auxiliary conveyor is moved toward or away from the opposed ends of said main conveyor to adjust the point of transfer of said sheet of paper from said pins on said main conveyor to said pins on said auxiliary conveyor.

4. A conveyor system for feeding sheets of paper to a roller of a printing machine comprising a main conveyor and an auxiliary conveyor, said main conveyor comprising a pair of elongated, spaced and parallel side members, said side members each having a slot formed therein extending inthe direction of their elongation and aligned with each other, a shaft rotatably mounted in and extending between said side members adjacent their respective ends, each of said shafts having end portions thereof projecting beyond the outer side of their respective adjacent si'd'e members, a sprocket mounted on each projecting portion of said shaft, an endless chain trained around each pair of sprockets ad'- jacent one of said side members for continuous substantially orbital movement relative thereto, a plurality of spaced pins mounted on each of said chains for engaging an edge of a sheet of paper to be conveyed to said roller, said pins on one of said chains being normally aligned with said pins on the other of said chains, said auxiliary conveyor comprising a pair of spaced, elongated, substantially rectangular and parallel plates disposed between and parallel to said side members with the inner face of each of the latter juxtaposed with respect to the adjacent outer face of the former, a bearing block fixedly mounted on the upper edge of each of said plates adjacent one of their respective ends, each of said bearing blocks having a horizontal and transversely extending opening for-med therein and in alignment with each other, a second bearing block mounted on the upper edge of each of said plates adjacent the -other of their respective ends,

each of said second bearing blocks having a horizontaland-transversely extending opening formed thereinand in alignment with each other, a shaft mounted for rotation in each pair of aligned openings insaid blocks, each of said blocks having-a portion thereof projecting laterally beyond said outer face of each of said plates and extend ing within said slot in each adjacent side member for sliding engagement therein toward and away from the opposed ends of said main conveyor, a sprocket mounted on each shaft of said auxiliary conveyor adjacent the inner faces of said plates, an endless chain trained around each pair of said last named sprockets adjacent each of said inner faces of said plates for continuous substantially orbital movement relative thereto, a plurality of spaced pins mounted on each of said last named chains for ngag'e'rnent'against said edge of said paper, said pins on one of said last named chains being normally aligned with said pins on the other of said last n'amed chains, means coacting with one of said last names sprockets and its shaft to radially adjust the former with respect to the latter to correct misalignment of said pins of said last named chains, a gear rack on the lower edge of each of said plates, a shaft fixedly mounted below and extending horizontally and transversely of said main conveyor, an elongated bar having one of its ends rotatably mounted on said last named shaft adjacent each end thereof, said bars having their respective other ends projecting upwardly toward said side members, means securing said bars in adjusted position radially of said last named shaft, a shaft rotatably supported on said bars adjacent their other respective ends, a gear wheel secured to said last named shaft adjacent each end thereof for rotation therewith anameshing, respectively, with one of said gear racks on said plates, and means to rotate said last named shaft whereby said auxiliary conveyor is moved toward or away from the opposed ends of said main conveyor to adjust the point of transfer of said sheet of paper from said pins on said main conveyor to said pins on said auxiliary conveyor.

5, A conveyor system for feeding sheets of paper to a roller of a printing machine comprising a main conveyor and an auxiliary conveyor, said inain conveyor comprising a pair of elongated, spaced and parallel side members, said side members each having a slot formed therein extending in the direction of their elongation and aligned with each other, a shaft rotatably mounted in and extending between said side members adjacent their respective ends, each of said shafts having end portions thereof projecting beyond the outer side of their respective adjacent side members, a sprocket mounted on each projecting portion of said shaft, an endless chain trained around each pair of sprockets adjacent one of said side members for continuous substantially orbital movement relative thereto, a plurality of spaced pins mounted on each of said chains for engaging an edge of a sheet of paper to be conveyed to said roller, said pins on one of said chains being normally aligned with said pins on the other of said chains, said auxiliary conveyor comprising a pair of spaced, elongated, substantially rectangular and parallel platesdisposed between and parallel to said side members with the inner face of each of the latter juxtaposed with respect to the adjacent outer face of the former, a bearing block fixedly mounted on the upper edge of each of said plates adjacent one of their respective ends, each of said bearing blocks having a horizontal and transversely extending opening formed therein and in alignment with each other, a second bearing block mounted on the upper edge of each of said plates adjacent the other of their respective ends, each of said second bearing blocks having a horizontal and transversely extending opening formed therein and in alignment with each other, a shaft mounted for rotation in each pair of aligned openings in said blocks, each of said blocks having a portion thereof projecting laterally beyond said outer faces of each of said plates and extending Within said slot in each adjacent side member for sliding engagement therein toward and away from the opposed ends of said main conveyor, a sprocket mounted on each shaft of said auxiliary conveyor adjacent the inner faces of said plates, an endless chain trained around each pair of said last named sprockets adjacent each of said inner faces of said plates for continuous substantially orbital movement relative thereto, a plurality of spaced pins mounted on each of said last named chains for engagement against said edge of said paper, said pins on one of said last named chains being normally aligned with said pins on the other of said last named chains, a gear rack formed in the lower edge of each of said plates, a shaft fixedly mounted below and extending horizontally and transversely of said main conveyor, an elongated bar having one of its ends rotatably mounted on said last named shaft adjacent each end thereof, said bars having their respective other ends projecting upwardly toward said side members, means securing said bars in adjusted position radially of said last named shaft, a shaft rotatably supported on said bars adjacent their other respective ends, a gear Wheel secured to said last named shaft adjacent each end thereof for rotation therewith and meshing, respectively, with one of said gear racks formed in said plates, and means to rotate said last named shaft whereby said auxiliary conveyor is moved toward or away from the opposed ends of said main conveyor to adjust the point of transfer of said sheet of paper from said pins on said main conveyor to said pins on said auxiliary conveyor.

6. A conveyor system for feeding sheets of paper to a roller of a printing machine comprising a main conveyor and an auxiliary conveyor, said main conveyor comprising a pair of elongated, spaced and parallel side members, said side members each having a grindway thereon extending in the direction of their elongation and aligned with each other, a shaft rotatably mounted in and extending between said side members adjacent their respective ends, each of said shafts having end portions thereof projecting beyond the outer side of their respective adjacent side members, a sprocket mounted on each projecting portion of said shaft, an endless chain trained around each pair of sprockets adjacent one of said side members for continuous substantially orbital movement relative thereto, a plurality of spaced pins mounted on each of said chains for engaging an edge of a sheet of paper to be conveyed to said roller, said pins on one of said chains being normally aligned with said pins on the other of said chains, said auxiliary'conveyor comprising a pair of spaced. elongated, substantially rectangular and parallel plates disposed between and parallel to said side members with the inner face of each of the latter juxtaposed with respect to the adjacent outer face of the former, a bearing block fixedly mounted on the upper edge of each of said plates adjacent one of their respective ends, each of said bearing blocks having a horizontal and transversely extending opening formed therein and in alignment with each other, a second bearing block mounted on the upper edge of each of said plates adjacent the other of their respective ends, each of said second bearing blocks having a horizontal and transversely extending opening formed therein and in alignment with each other, a shaft mounted for rotation in each pair of aligned openings in said blocks, each or said blocks having a portion thereof projecting laterally beyond said outer faces of each of said plates and extending with in said grindway in each adjacent side member for sliding engagement therein toward and away from the opposed ends or" said main conveyor, a sprocket mounted on each shaft of said auxiliary conveyor adjacent the inner faces of said plates, an endless chain trained around each pair of said last named sprockets adjacent each of said inner faces of said plates for continuous substantially orbital movement relative thereto, a plurality of spaced pins mounted on each of said last named chains for engagement against said edge of said paper, said pins on one of said last named chains being normally aligned with said pins on the other of said last named chains, and means coacting with each of said plates to slidably move said auxiliary conveyor toward or away from the opposed ends of said main conveyor to adjust the point of transfer of said sheet of paper from said pins on said main conveyor to said pins on said auxiliary conveyor.

7. A conveyor system for feeding sheets of pa per to a roller of a printing machine comprising a main conveyor and an auxiliary conveyor, said main conveyor comprising a pair of elongated, spaced and parallel side members, a sprocket mounted for rotation adjacent each end of said side members, an endless chain trained around each pair of sprockets adjacent one of said side members, a plurality of pins mounted on said chains for engaging an edge of a sheet of paper to be conveyed to said roller, said auxiliary conveyor comprising a carriage slidably supported on said main conveyor between said side members, a pair of spaced sprockets mounted on said carriage adjacent each end thereof, an endless chain trained around each pair of sprockets adjacent one side of said carriage, a plurality of pins mounted on said auxiliary conveyor chains for engagement with an edge of said sheet of paper, and means for sliding said auxiliary conveyor toward and away from the opposed ends of said main conveyor whereby the point of transfer of said sheet of paper from said main conveyor to said auxiliary conveyor may be varied.

GEORGE EABICZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 452,509 Snell May 19, 1891 1,029,159 Westerbeck June 11, 1912 1,979,253 Coy Nov. 6, 1922 2,484,845 Nordquist et al. Oct. 18, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 539,717 France Apr. 6, 1922 

